Calibrachoa plant named ‘KLECA05116’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘KLECA05116’, characterized by its compact and outwardly spreading growth habit; mounded plant habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; relatively large dark red-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘KLECA05116’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCalibrachoa, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp. and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘KLECA05116’.

The new Calibrachoa is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventor in Stuttgart, Germany. The objective of the breedingprogram is to create new freely-branching Calibrachoa cultivars withcompact and trailing plant habit, early and freely flowering habit, andunique and attractive flower color.

The new Calibrachoa originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor during the summer of 2002 in Stuttgart, Germany of aproprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number U14,not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietaryselection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number J 55, notpatented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Calibrachoa wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plantwithin the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlledenvironment in Stuttgart, Germany in May, 2003.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa by terminal cuttings in acontrolled environment in Stuttgart, Germany since May, 2003, has shownthat the unique features of this new Calibrachoa are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar KLECA05116 has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature andlight intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘KLECA05116’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘KLECA05116’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofCalbrachoa:

-   -   1. Compact and outwardly spreading growth habit; mounded plant        habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit.    -   3. Freely flowering habit.    -   4. Relatively large dark red-colored flowers.    -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ from plants ofthe female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more compact and mounding        than plants of the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more freely branching than        plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the maleparent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily fromplants of the male parent selection in flower color.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the cultivarKLEC02073, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted inStuttgart, Germany, plants of the new Calibrachoa differed from plantsof the cultivar KLEC02073 in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa were more compact and mounding        than plants of the cultivar KLEC02073.    -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the cultivar KLEC02073        differed in flower color as plants of the cultivar KLEC02073 had        darker red-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Calibrachoa, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Calibrachoa. The photograph comprises a close-up view of typicalflowers and leaves of ‘KLECA05116’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The photograph and following observations, measurements and valuesdescribe plants grown in Stuttgart, Germany, under commercial practiceduring the spring in a glass-covered greenhouse with day and nighttemperatures ranging from 14° C. to 16° C. and light levels averaging20,000 lux. Rooted young plants had been growing for about five monthswhen the photograph and description were taken. Plants used for thedescription were grown in 12-cm containers. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. cultivar KLECA05116.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number U 14, not            patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number J 55, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at temperatures of 20° C. to 26° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            weeks at temperatures of 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, outwardly spreading growth            habit, mounded plant habit. Freely branching habit with            about five primary lateral branches each with multiple            secondary lateral branches; pinching is typically not            required. Moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 8 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 18 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 9 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 2 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 0.5 cm to 2 cm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Color.—145A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple; sessile.        -   Length.—About 1 cm to 3 cm.        -   Width.—About 0.5 cm to 1.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate to elliptical.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.        -   Color.—Developing foliage, upper surface: 138A. Developing            foliage, lower surface: 138B. Fully expanded foliage, upper            and lower surfaces: 138A; venation, 144B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Relatively large salverform            flowers arranged singly arising from leaf axils. Freely            flowering habit with usually about 60 open flowers and            flower buds developing per lateral branch. Flowers not            persistent. Flowers face mostly upright to outwardly.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously            throughout the summer in Germany.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about one week on            the plant.        -   Flower diameter.—About 3 cm.        -   Flower length (height).—About 4 cm.        -   Flower throat diameter.—About 8 mm.        -   Flower tube diameter.—About 2 mm.        -   Flower tube length.—About 1.5 cm.        -   Flower bud.—Shape: Elongated oblong. Length: About 1.3 cm.            Diameter: About 4 mm. Color: 59C.        -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and            opening into a flared trumpet. Petal length from throat:            About 1.3 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1.7 cm. Petal shape:            Roughly cordate. Petal apex: Crenate. Petal margin: Entire.            Petal texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;            satiny. Throat and tube texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:            Petal, when opening, upper surface: 46A. Petal, when            opening, lower surface: 51A. Petal, fully opened, upper            surface: 46B and 46C; venation, 53A. Petal, fully opened,            lower surface: 51B; venation, 185B. Throat: 46C; venation,            53A. Tube: 12A; venation, 201A.        -   Calyx.—Arrangement: One star-shaped calyx tube with five            sepals fused at the base per flower. Sepal length: About            1.8 cm. Sepal width: About 6 mm. Sepal shape: Lanceolate to            elliptical. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal            texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper surface: 136B. Color, lower surface: 137C.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 4 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Angle:            Erect to about 75° from stem axis. Strength: Moderately            strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 144A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity/arrangement: Six per            flower. Anther shape: Elliptic. Anther length: About 1 mm to            2 mm. Anther color: 11B. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen            color: 11B. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil            length: About 7 mm. Style length: About 5 mm. Style color:            150A. Stigma shape: Oval. Stigma color: 149A. Ovary color:            154A. Seed/fruit: Seed and fruit development have not been            observed on plants of the new Calibrachoa.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed    to have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and    temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to about 50° C.-   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not    been observed to be resistant to Powdery Mildew. Plants of the new    Calibrachoa have not been observed to be resistant to pests and    other pathogens common to Calibrachoa.

1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named ‘KLECA05116’ asillustrated and described.